Paper cup and handle therefor



June 26, 195] w, AMBERG 2,558,287

PAPER CUP AND HANDLE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1951 w. E. AMBERG 2,558,287 PAPER cm AND HANDLE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 26, 1951 PAPER CUP AND HANDLE THEREFOR 'Walter E. Amberg,'Beverly Shores, Ind., assignor, -by mesne assignments, to Lily-Tulip Cup Corporation, New Delaware York, N. Y., a corporation of Application November 19, 1945, Serial No. 629,448

This invention relates to improvements in paper cups and 'more particularly to paper cups for holding hot liquids such as hot coffee and the like.

When paper cups are utilizedfor holding hot liquids the outside of the cup also becomes'hot by reason of transfer of heat through the walls of the cup much to th'ediscomfort'of the person holding the hotpaper cup. 'In the past paper cups have been provided with paper handles whereby discomfort of the person holding the hot paper cup has been considerably decreased. However, such paper handles have beenrather flimsy in construction and when grasped the paper cup has a tendency to shift and Wobble which often results in spilling the hot contents of the cup. This, of course, is alsodis'comforting' to the person holding thehot paper'cup.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved handle for paper cups, which may be readily folded into place and which is of firm construction and which does not permit shifting and wobbling of the cup with consequent spilling of the hot contents thereof.

In carrying out this object'of the invention the side wall of the paper cup is provided with an opening and a flap extending from 'a point adjacent the opening. The'flap is' provided with a portion which is adaptedto befolded away from the cup, a portion which is adapted to be folded toward the cup, and a portion which is adapted to be inserted in the opening to form a one piece handle which is rigidly secured at spaced'apart points on the side wall of the cup. In cross section, therefore, the handle is a single piece triangle which is extremely rigid and stron and which effectively prevents any shifting 'or wobbling of the cup with respect to the handle.

The handle, before being folded into place, lies closely to the side of the cup in the form'of a fiap which permits ready nesting of a plurality of cups. The flap and opening cooperating to form the handle'may be readily formed on a piece of paper adhesively secured to the side wall of the cup or they may be formed on the outer wrapping portion of a double wrapped cup.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the improved paper cup and handle therefor.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the cup with the handle flap lying close to the side wall of the cup;

- Claims. Cl. -22952) Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken from the right of Fig. 1 with the handle flap folded into position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan' view of the blank forming the side walls and handle of the cup of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the cup of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank utilized in the modification of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are similar to Figs. 1. 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively but showing a modified arrangement;

Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing a modification of the cup illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, the side Wall of the cup is designated at Ill and, as shown, the side wall is a double wrapped side wall having an outer wrapping II and an inner wrapping I2. The edge of the inner wrapping l2 terminates at l 3 and the outer wrapping l l terminates in a flap M. The top of the side wall of the cup may be suitably rolled into a flange l5 and the bottom of the side wall may be secured to or formed with a bottom It for the cup.

The flap M is narrower than as indicated at l8 and IS. The extra width on the side walls I 3 is utilized for forming the flange l5 and for securing the side wall to the bottom [6 of the cup. Of course, the flap l4 should not be included in the flange or in the securing flange at the bottom of the cup. As shown in Fig. l the flap l4 lies close to the side wall of the cup so that a plurality of cups may be readily nested.

The handle flap I4 includes a portion 20 adapted to be folded outwardly along a line 2| and also a portion 22 adapted to be folded inwardly along a line 23. a tongue 24 adapted to be folded inwardly along a line 25 and the tongue 24 is adapted to be inserted in an opening 26 located in the outer wrapping H of the side wall of the cup. As shown, the opening 26 is underneath the handle flap [4 and is circumferentially spaced from the fold line 2|.

When the handle flap I4 is folded into position with the tongue 24 inserted 'in the opening 26,

the side wall In,

as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the handle is sub-.

stantially triangular incross section and is of one piece construction, the one piece handle being se'c'uredto the side wallof' The flap also includes the cup at circum ferentially spaced apart points. This provides an extremely rigid and strong construction which effectively prevents any shifting or wobbling of the cup with respect to the handle and, therefore, when the handle i4 is grasped there is no danger of spilling the contents of the cup.

Fig. 5 illustrates the blank which forms the side wall I and the handle flap l4 of the cup. The outer and inner wrappings l l and I2 of the side wall of the cup are adhesively secured together, the flap being free and no adhesive being applied adjacent the opening 26 whereby the tongue may be readily inserted in the opening 26.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate a modification of the cup of Figs. 1 to 5. In thismodified form a conventional cup having a side wall 30 provided with the usual seam 3| is utilized. A blankm32 forming a Wrapper for the side wall of the cup may be adhesively secured to the side wall of the cup for accomplishing substantially the same results which are accomplished by the cup of Figs. 1 to 5. The blank or wrapper 32 includes the same handle flap l4 and the same opening 26 as is utilized in the cup of Figs. 1 to 5. When the wrapper or blank 32 is adhesively secured to the, side wall 30 of the cup, the flap [4 remains free and no adhesive material is placed around the opening 26 so that when the handle flap I4 is folded in position, the tongue 24 thereof may be readily inserted in the opening 26.

A further modified arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12. Essentially this modified arrangement is the same as the cup of Figs. 1 to 5 with the exception of the construction of the handle flap l4 and the type of opening in the outer wrapping of the double wrapped cup. Because of the close similarity between the two cups, like reference characters for like parts have been utilized.

In the modified cup of Figs. 8 to 12, the handle flap 14 includes a portion 35 adapted to be bent outwardly along a fold line 36, a portion 31 adapted to be folded inwardly along a fold line 38 and a portion 39 adapted to be folded outwardly along the fold line 48. The portion 39 of the flap I4 is provided with ears 4i and 42.

Openings 43 and 44 are formed in the outer wrapping H of the side wall of the cup and these openings are provided with sectors 45 and 46 respectively.

The inner and outer wrappings of the side walls of the cup are adhesively secured together, the flap l4 being free and no adhesive material being placed adjacent the openings 43 and 44. As shown in Fig. 3, the flap I4 lies close to the side wall of the cup so that a plurality of cups may be readily nested. When the handle flap i4 is folded into position as shown in Figs. 9, and 11, the ears 4| and 42 of the handle flap l4 enter the openings 43 and 44 respectively and catch under the sectors 45 and 46 respectively to form a firm and rigid joint between the handle flap l4 and the side wall it! of the cup.

In this modification as in the previous modifications explained, a one piece handle is provided which is rigidly secured to the side wall of the cup at points circumferentially spaced apart to form a handle of rigid construction which effectively prevents wobbling or shifting of the cup when the handle is grasped.

Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a modification of the cup shown in Figs. 8 to 12. Instead of utilizing'a double wrapped cup with the handle flap formed on the side wall of the cup, this latter arrangement utilizes a conventional cup having a side wall so provided with the usual seam 5|. The handle flap l4 and the openings 43 and 44 are provided on a blank or wrapper 52 which in turn may be adhesively secured to the side wall 50 of r the cup. When the blank or wrapper 52 is ad.- hesively secured to the side wall of the cup, the flap I4 is left free and no adhesive material is applied adjacent the openings 43 and 44 whereby the flap l4 may be folded into the handle and the ears 4| and 42 suitably caught under the sectors 45 and 46.

Accordingly, in the several modifications described above, the side wall of the cup is provided with an opening in the outer surface there- ,of anda flap extending from the side wall adjacent the opening. The flap is adapted to lie close to the side wallof the cup to permit nesting-of a plurality of cups. The flap also has a portion adapted-to be folded away from the side wall, a portion adapted to be folded toward the side wall, and a portion adapted to be inserted in the opening to provide a one piece handle which is secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the cup. This provides a rigid construction which prevents shifting or wobbling of the cup and consequent spilling of the contents thereof.

While for purposes of illustration several forms of this invention have been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure, and therefore this invention is to be limited only by this scope of the appended claims and the prior ar I claim as my invention:

1. A paper cup comprising a side wall having an outer wrapping, said outer wrapping having an opening therein and a free flap extending therefrom adjacent to the opening and lying close to the side wall of the cup to permit nesting of a plurality of cups, said free flap having a portion foldable outwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and spaced from the opening, a portion foldable inwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and a portion insertable through the opening underneath the outer wrapping to provide a one-piece vertically arranged handle secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the, cup.

2..A paper cup comprising a double wrapped side wall having an inner wrapping and an outer wrapping, said outer wrapping having an opening therein and a free flap extending therefrom adjacent to the opening and lying close to the side wall of the cup to permit nesting of a plurality of cups, said free flap having a portion foldable outwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and spaced from the opening, a portion foldable inwardly along a line substantionally vertical with respect to the cup and a portion insertable through the opening underneath the outer wrapping to provide a one-piece vertically arranged handle secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the cup.

3. A paper cup comprising a side wall, a paper part adhesively secured to the side wall of the cup and having an opening therein and a free flap extending therefrom adjacent to the opening and lying close to the side wall of the cup to permit nesting of a plurality of cups, said free flap having a portion foldable outwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and spaced from the opening, a portion foldable in-- wardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and a portion insertable through the opening underneath the paper part to provide a one-piece vertically arranged handle secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the cup.

4. A paper cup comprising a side wall having an outer wrapping, said outer wrapping having an elongated substantially vertically arranged opening therein and a free flap extending therefrom adjacent to the opening and lying close to the side wall of the cup to permit nesting of a plurality of cups, said free flaps having a portion foldable outwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and spaced from the opening, a portion foldable inwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and a tongue insertable through the elongated opening underneath the outer wrapping to provide a one-piece vertically arranged handle secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the cup. 7

5. A paper cup comprising a side wall having an outer wrapping, said outer wrapping having a pair of substantially vertically arranged openings therein and a free flap extending therefrom adjacent to the pair of openings and lying close to the side wall of the cup to permit nesting of a plurality of cups, said free flap having a portion foldable outwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cups and spaced from the opening, a portion foldable inwardly along a line substantially vertical with respect to the cup and a portion having substantially vertically arranged ears insertable through the substantially vertically arranged openings underneath the outer wrapping to provide a one-piece vertically arranged handle secured at circumferentially spaced apart points on the side wall of the cup.

- WALTER E. AMBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,795,615 Parran Mar. 10, 1931 1,881,375 Ristow Oct. 4, 1932 2,032,343 Arthur Mar. 3, 1936 2,060,781 Annen Nov. 17, 1936 2,151,733 Bonfield Mar. 28, 1939 

